Ikea Furniture Store

If you haven't visited an IKEA furniture store yet, then you are in for one of the wildest interior design rides of your life. With more than 250 stores in 24 countries and annual sales in the billions, this iconic brand has literally wrapped its arms around the world.

The concept behind IKEA is simple and straightforward—-well-designed, functional home furnishings at ridiculously low prices.

Low prices are low prices, so you won't find your next heirloom here. Most IKEA furnishings need to be assembled, and are usually crafted from composites, plastics, and other less-expensive materials. However, if taken care of, an IKEA-made sofa, dresser, bed, table, desk, chair, etc. will have a long and happy life in your home.

IKEA maintains the vision that they want as many people as possible around the world to have access to quality furnishings, so they have developed cost-effective and innovative manufacturing practices to keep their prices low. They:

• Maximize the use of their raw materials
• Coordinate their designs so an entire residence can be outfitted in their pieces
• Maintain a highly efficient system of manufacturing, transportation and sales
• Craft modern, timeless pieces that are functional and attractive

The company stocks hundreds of different models that run through the full spectrum of interior and exterior furnishings.

Categories include:

• Bathroom
• Bedroom
• Children
• Cooking & Eating
• Decoration & Mirrors
• Dining
• Hallway
• Kitchen
• Summer
• Laundry
• Lighting
• Living Room
• Secondary Storage
• Small Storage
• Textiles
• Workspace

In the 1920s when Swedish founder Ingvar Kamprad was less than 10 years old, he started purveying matches, buying them in bulk and selling them individually to make a profit. From matches he expanded to flower seeds, greeting cards, pencils and pens.

Twenty years later Kamprad tapped into this entrepreneurial spirit and began selling furniture. During the 1940s and 1950s he started to experiment with design, self-assembly, advertising, and eventually began using a catalog and a show room to reach as many potential buyers as possible.

Since the 1960s the IKEA brand has expanded into one of the world’s most prolific and wide-reaching furniture dealers. Most recently the company formed the IKEA Group as a socially responsible entity.

• In 2008 565 million customers visited an IKEA store
• Top sales: Germany, USA, France, UK, Sweden
• 41 trading service offices in 30 countries monitor production, test new ideas, negotiate prices, check quality, and maintain watch over social and working conditions
• Top purchasing: China, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Germany
• More than 9,500 pieces make up IKEA's home furnishings business

IKEA furniture store takes a lot of pride in their socially and environmentally responsible practices. Wherever possible they use materials and products that are healthy for their customers and for the earth. They are also working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure that their products are manufactured under acceptable working conditions, and also strive to prevent child labor.

Some of IKEA's projects include:

• One dollar is a fortune
  • For a certain number of weeks each year, the company donates one dollar for every teddy bear or soft toy sold
• Millions of dollars are donated to projects run by UNICEF and Save the Children
• Climate change
  • IKEA aims to supply all of its buildings with renewable energy (sources other than fossil fuel)
  • The company is also working to improve its overall energy efficiency by 25 percent compared with 2005
  • They have installed energy-saving light bulbs, keep lights on only when the warehouses are open, and have also installed extra insulation to save energy on heating and cooling
  • Ultimately they hope to use wind, water, solar, biofuel and geothermal power to provide energy for all IKEA buildings
• Working conditions
  • IKEA does not accept child labor at any of their suppliers or sub-contractors
  • They are working to prevent child labor by developing solutions that address the root cause of the problem, such as poverty, lack of education, etc.
• Partnerships
  • IKEA works with Sow a Seed to help restore 18,500 hectares of rainforest in Malaysian Borneo, which has been damaged by logging and a massive fire in 1983
  • They also work with the World Wildlife Fund to develop better cotton farming practices in India and Pakistan

The furniture store that revolutionized the furniture business is still going strong today. As the company continues to expand to more cities and countries across the globe, they have also recently beefed up their website offerings.

Not everything they sell is available online, and sometimes the shipping costs just as much as the item you purchase, but it is worth taking a look at the inventory and narrowing down your choices. If you don’t live near an IKEA just rent a truck, take it to the closest store and stock up! Your wallet with thank you and your home will look clean, fresh, and oh so modern.

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